Psychiatric Medication

Abstract

This exploratory, descriptive study assessed psychiatric medication use in two samples. Students in three social work courses and practicing social workers in a midwestern city were surveyed by mail. Respondents were asked to identify symptoms, psychiatric medication use, effectiveness of drug therapy, side effects, stigma, and to rate the impact of psychiatric medication use on their current or future social work practice. The results indicated that depression and anxiety were common, especially in the social work student sample, with approximately 20 to 25 percent of the sample having taken psychiatric medication. These numbers were even higher when herbal preparations were considered. Both samples reported that medication was helpful, but that taking it was stigmatizing. They also felt, however, that their experience with medication had a positive impact on their current or future career as social workers. Further descriptive results and implications for social work practice, education, and research are presented.

Key Words:

• Psychiatric medication use in social work students and clinicians